Which breast implants are best?

Some women experience changes after pregnancy and breastfeeding, others feel their breasts are too small, uneven, misshapen or disproportionate. No matter the reason, the impact of this procedure on a woman’s self-image and confidence can be dramatic.

Breast augmentation surgery involves placing an implant behind each breast to increase its size and shape, always with the goal of creating breasts that look natural and fit with the overall proportions of a woman’s body. Choosing to undergo this procedure is a big decision, and one that comes along with many questions. One of the most common: which breast implants are the best?

Breast implant material.

When patients ask “which breast implants are best?”, they’re usually referring to breast implant material. There are two breast implant materials approved by Health Canada: silicone and saline. Ultimately, the choice you make along with your surgeon will depend on a number of factors including your cosmetic goals and body type.

Silicone breast implants are made up of a silicone elastomer shell, filled with soft, cohesive silicone gel. Available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, silicone implants closely mimic the feel of a breast, and are often considered to look more natural.

Saline breast implants have the same silicone elastomer shell as silicone implants, but are filled with sterile saltwater during surgery. The size of the implant shell as well as the amount of saline that is used to fill it will ultimately determine the look and feel of your breast. Because these implants are inserted into the body while empty and filled once in place, saline implants may sometimes allow surgeons to use smaller incisions.

What size suits you best?

The size of your breast implants is another important consideration when deciding whether breast augmentation is right for you. This is a highly personal decision, and in order to ensure natural, proportionate results, your height, body type, cosmetic goals, and the amount and quality of your natural breast tissue must be considered. These measurements and this discussion will usually be the more important part of your consultation and surgical planning.

At Toronto Plastic Surgery, Vectra XT 3-Dimensional Simulation will be used during your consultation, allowing you to visualize how breast augmentation is likely to appear on your own body. This is a very exciting and useful way to talk about what you like and what you don’t like about your breasts, and to ensure that your surgeon shares your vision.

Breast implant shape.

Not only are breast implants available in a variety of sizes, they come in different shapes too. The right choice will depend on your native breast shape and your aesthetic goals.

Round implants are just that – round. They add an equal amount of volume around the entire circumference of the breast, providing a significant boost in cleavage and fullness for a youthful final result. Properly sized, round implants can provide a natural breast contour. Shaped implants—sometimes called “anatomic” or “teardrop” implants—create results that mimic the shape of natural breast tissue with more fullness in the lower portion of the breast.

Incision location.

Another question that many of our patients ask during consultation is “will there be a scar?” With all options, incisions are very inconspicuous, and scars normally fade over time. That being said, there are a few options for incision location: periareolar (along the lower edge of the areola), inframammary (at the base of the breast, in the crease where the breast connects to the chest wall), and transaxillary (within the armpit). The location of your incision is often a personal choice, but can also be influenced by the type of implant and placement you select.

Implant placement options.

Many patients don’t realize that there is more than one option when it comes to the placement of your new implants. In fact there are two unique options: subglandular (above your chest muscle), and submuscular (below your chest muscle). With subglandular placement, the implant is positioned between the chest muscle and the existing breast tissue. Since the muscle is left untouched, recovery time is often slightly shorter. Patients with little existing breast tissue may not be good candidates for this technique as implant visibility with an unnatural appearance can occur. With submuscular placement (often referred to as “dual plane”), the implant is positioned under the chest muscle. This technique often results in more natural-looking results, though the recovery time can be slightly longer.

As you can see, there are many factors to consider when choosing to undergo breast augmentation, but don’t be overwhelmed. During your consultation, your surgeon will walk you through your options to help you make the decision that is right for you. If you’d like to schedule a surgical consultation, contact us today.

Which breast implants are best? was last modified: July 26th, 2018 by Alyssa